Chapter 385 Montenegro Treaty
Standing at the window, Horn looked down from the second floor of Black Mountain Castle and saw Domenico and others sitting in the courtyard, drinking mint water in big gulps.

Their clothes were soaked with sweat, but they were still unwilling to take off the tassels and wide robes that symbolized their status.

With that elegant posture, it seemed as if they were not coming to surrender but to inspect.

Turning around, Horn looked at the cardinals and legion commanders in the hall.

In contrast, the grassroots legion commanders and bishops all wore either sleeveless robes or linen shirts.

Coupled with this fierce temperament and the belt representing military rank on his body, he really looks like a bandit in his bandit outfit.

If Horn hadn't repeatedly reminded them to pay attention to their appearance, they would have attended the meeting shirtless.

Unlike the previous discussion on the next battle plan, what was being discussed now was the nobles' surrender letter.

"We are about to win. It's just a matter of time. Why should I agree to them?" Coleman and Rudylo, the two pro-war factions, had clear positions.

They both had a feeling that, before I even put in any effort, you'd already fallen down.

Hakuto raised an objection: "Do you know how many people there are in Jinhe Township? Nearly 40. We are already stretched thin with 20 people. How can we manage 40 more?"

"Don't worry about it." Coleman waved his hand carelessly, "Isn't it good enough to let them take care of themselves?"

"Come on." Das, who was standing on the same side as Hakuto, retorted, "You didn't study the Holy Way class well, there is no power vacuum.

If we let them manage it themselves, there is a high probability that a new group of knights will emerge, and they will be no different from before we came."

"The most important point is that we don't have much time." Jieshka interrupted their conversation and spread a thin parchment map on the table for the legion commanders to look at. "We need at least another month to completely capture the rest of Jinhe Township, and Rapid City has been under siege for almost two months..."

"Rapid City is fine. They haven't activated the alliance agreement to ask us for help. They have reinforcements from Kasha County, so they can hold out for at least a month."

"I've been to Rapid City. Our walls were so short that they were able to hold out for so long. With such a high wall, it will be no problem for us to hold out for another month or two."

"Gouhu Township is currently under blockade, and information cannot get in or out. Every time we get in, we have to go through Kasha County. The last time we got any news from them was fifteen days ago. Who knows what their situation is?"

"Weren't they able to break through the blockade of Gouhu Township before? It just cost more money and manpower. If they really need help, they will arrive in three to five days."

Horn, who had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed in deep thought, opened his eyes: "The merchants in Rapid City are afraid of us, and they will not come to us for help unless it is absolutely necessary.

Besides, we cannot hand over the reins of our destiny to others, to the hands of Rapid City. Whether it is internal or external, cooperating with the Knights is the best solution at present."

"But can those knights really be trusted? They are our enemies." Jourdan rarely expressed his opinion at the meeting.

Horn shook his head: "What we are destroying is the group of demons, not the individuals."

"Besides, they are Kushites, better than those foreign knights, right?" Thomas, the great-grandson of the Holy Fathers, the secretary of the order, echoed.

“Whether it is war or peace, both are means to expel the devil. We cannot fight for the sake of war, nor can we seek peace for the sake of peace.

I want to end the war here as soon as possible to prevent the overall situation of Qianhe Valley from going to failure."

In the end, it was Horn who made the final decision and cast his own 10,000 votes
Although there may still be some dissatisfaction and doubt, the Salvation Army leaders present still obeyed Horn's orders.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After an efficient meeting of the cardinals, an agreement was drawn up before three o'clock in the afternoon and handed over to Domenico before the meeting.

Excluding those minor details, the main contents of this agreement are seven:
First, with Heishan as the boundary, Yibei Township was established in the south of Heishan, and the north remained as Jinhe Township. The "Edict of the Holy Country's Land" was partially implemented in Yibei Township, and the "Edict of the Holy Country's Land" was fully implemented in Jinhe Township.

Secondly, the death hand tax, the Labour Code and the tribute system should be abolished in Ibe Township.

Third, a religious court was established in the Abbey of the River Cam. While retaining the nobles' power of law enforcement, the nobles' judicial power was abolished and handed over to itinerant priests and special judges.

Fourth, the land rent will be counted and reduced to 30%. If the rent is lower than 30%, no rent increase will be allowed. This part will be supervised by itinerant priests. If the rent exceeds 30%, the lord will be treated as a crime and have to pay a fine.

Fifth, accept the Kush Knights into the Salvation Army and the Earls and Nobles into the Senate. All Kush Knights and Nobles must obey the orders of Saint Sun Horn.

Sixth, all knights were baptized as Holy Word knights, and all families sent their direct descendants to study in the newly built school in Jeanne d'Arc.

Seventh, ensure the safety of life and property of knights who have been baptized by the Holy Word.

Domenico read through the terms of the agreement and closed the document with a smile. "May I ask about Article 4? Are we the ones who will appoint the priests who will oversee it?"

"What are you thinking?" Coleman, who was already unhappy, glared at him, "It must be appointed by His Majesty."

Domenico's smile gradually turned into astonishment. The other terms were acceptable to Jinhe Township, but the rent limit of 30% was too outrageous. "Everything else can be agreed to, but the fourth one is really... If the farmers don't pay taxes, what will we eat?"

"When did farmers stop paying taxes? Isn't it written here? Pay 30% tax." Horn pointed at the text on the clause, "I don't think this tax reduction is that big, is it?"

"If we only pay 30% tax and cancel the tribute and death tax, then some of our dignity, our status, our social etiquette, our good morals, our good character, and even our soul will be destroyed."

A knight from Kush who came with Domenico couldn't help but interject.

So paying 30% tax is the same as not paying tax for you, right?
Horn leaned back in his chair speechlessly: "You want to get what you can't get on the battlefield at the negotiation table?
Don't be naive, my friend. To put it bluntly, you are the losers surrendering to the victor in order to seek a moment of peace. I am the one who sets the rules.

The conditions I proposed are generous enough. If we postpone it any further, when the fortress ahead is built, I am afraid that the Black Mountain will no longer be the boundary. "

Domenico shuddered and was about to muster up the courage to refute, but then he remembered what his grandmother said to him before she left.

"As long as we can keep our current status and property, we will give the Savior Army as much as they ask for!"

Domenico calmed down, thought about it, and then began to pull the sleeves of several of his companions.

"What's wrong?" the companions asked impatiently.

Domenico smiled at Horn apologetically and said, "Please excuse me for a moment. I need to discuss something with my companions."

"Go ahead." Horn agreed naturally.

Pulling their companions' sleeves, they left the house and hid under the eaves in the scorching sun.

Over the next twenty minutes or so, Horn and the others in the room could hear quarrels coming from outside the window, sometimes loud and sometimes low.

The argument continued until Domenico opened the door again.

Horn, who was tired all the time, opened his sleepy eyes, stood up and greeted the noble envoys again: "Welcome back, how is it? Have you thought about it?"

"Out of trust and respect for you." Domenico respectfully saluted Horn and said, "I sign this agreement on behalf of Knight Kush."

…………

After the signing ceremony, both parties took the agreement back to report to their respective parties.

Domenico stayed in Montenegro Castle, watching his companions riding away from his sight, with a helpless smile on his face.

It is conceivable that in the following period of time, Domenico will have to live with the names of "Salvation Army spy", "Jinhe Township traitor" and "Lost peasant woman".

The reason why he stayed here was to redeem his good brothers and clear the identities of those Kush knights who helped the Savior Army fight the Ibe Army.

"Mr. Domenico." Jessica said to Domenico in a tough and cold tone, holding out his hand, "We have arranged a small house for you and your servants. It's over there."

"Okay, please lead the way." It must be said that Domenico was indeed impeccable in terms of aristocratic etiquette. He was polite even to old farmers.

This made Jessica feel a little embarrassed: "Just follow me."

Following behind Jessica, Domenico lowered his head as if thinking about something. They walked through the corridors and the camp and came to a two-story building.

This was the former bishop's villa, which was relatively quiet, but it was far from the main building of the castle. After all, the Savior Army still did not quite trust this group of knights.

After Jessica, who was leading the way, thanked him, Domenico stopped him as he was about to leave and said, "Mr. Jessica, can I take a walk around the barracks tomorrow?"

"Sure." Jeshka naturally didn't care.

They were not afraid that Domenico would learn something secretly. If they could do what the Saviors did, they would become the Saviors. If they couldn't, they would not be able to defeat the Saviors. Jessica had the confidence in this.

"Then can I ask you for a guide? For example, a legion clerk?"

"Who are you referring to?" Jessica keenly noticed the hidden meaning in Domenico's words.

Domenico smiled politely and said, "During the meeting today, I saw a legion clerk named Bernardo. He looked a lot like a friend of mine."

"You know him?"

"Maybe he worked as a laborer in my house before. Maybe I even talked to him." Domenico wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief: "Is it possible?"

"Why not?" Jessica rolled his eyes and shrugged. "Bernardo, right? You'll see him tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)